History of southwest Virginia, 1746-1786, Washington County, 1777-1870, Part 38

Author: Summers, Lewis Preston, 1868-1943
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Richmond, Va. : J.L. Hill Printing Company
Number of Pages: 936


USA > Virginia > Washington County > Washington County > History of southwest Virginia, 1746-1786, Washington County, 1777-1870 > Part 38


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In the month of December, 1787, the Indians killed and scalped Stephen English, near Laurel river, on the Kentucky path, and


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Washington County, 1777-1870.


William English and a young woman on Holston, and at the same time took a woman and four children prisoners, and made an in- cursion into Powell's Valley. They killed also, several men, wo- men and children, and, with a number of horses, fled in the direc- tion of the Cherokee country. During this year a large quantity of powder and lead was sent from the Holston to the Kentucky country, but it had to be guarded through the wilderness by fifty militia.


In the fall of this year. Colonel Joseph Martin was discontinued from office as Indian agent for the State of Virginia, and was suc- ceeded by Dr. - White.


With the opening of the spring of 1788, the Indians began again to disturb the settlements, and on the 20th of April, came into the Rve Cove settlement and carried off three boys and a negro man. two of the boys being the sons of Thomas Carter, who then repre- sented Russell county in the General Assembly. Early in the month of March, a party of Cherokees visited the settlements on the lower Holston, wounded one man and carried off about one hundred horses, and in the month of June, 1788, four men were killed in Russell county, and three men were killed and scalped on the Black mountain. One of the Elmires, three of the Breedings and Neal Roberts, from the New Garden settlements in Russell county. were found on Black mountain, killed and scalped.


In the spring of this year the Governor requested the representa- tives from Montgomery, Washington and Russell counties to recom- mend the number of militia and scouts necessary for the protection of their several counties, when the following recommendations were submitted :


"1st. That only one troop of horse are necessary to each regiment. and in some counties that might be dispensed with, and that the appointment of officers may be deferred until recommendations come from the respective counties.


"2d. We believe six scouts will be sufficient for Washington and Russell, four for Montgomery, and the like number for Greenbrier.


"3d. We hope that at least one full company of Rangers under an experienced officer will be allowed to do duty towards the Ohio, and, if attacks are apprehended from the Southern Indians, another company may be necessary in Powell's Valley on Clinch. Or the last-mentioned company might be raised by occasional drafts from


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the militia or detachments from the light companies of Washington, Montgomery and Russell.


"We believe it would be an improvement were the ranging com- panies of one-half musket men, their guns and bayonets to be of a neat and light construction, something similar to those used by the British Highland regiments when in America.


"The scouts ought to occasionally attend the ranging companies, and if Indians were to be pursued over the Ohio, horsemen, prop- erly armed, would be useful. These are cursory thoughts ; perhaps a more perfect plan and more economical might be formed, should your Excellency judge it proper to leave the consideration of the subject to a council of the field officers of the three Southwestern counties, to meet in February, except as to scouts, which we think ought to be ordered into service in February or early in March."


In June of this year, a convention of delegates from the several counties of Virginia assembled in Richmond for the purpose of rejecting or ratifying the Constitution of the United States, as pro- posed by the Philadelphia Convention.


The delegates from Washington county in this convention were Samuel Edmiston and James Montgomery. At this time such dis- tinguished Virginians as Patrick Henry opposed the ratification of the Constitution as submitted by the Philadelphia Convention, but the Virginia Convention ratified the Constitution by a vote of 89 to 79, the delegates from Washington county voting against the rati- fication of the Constitution.


Colonel Arthur Campbell and his followers were heartily in favor of the adoption of the Federal Constitution, and no doubt opposed the election of Edmiston and Montgomery.


In the fall of the year 1788, Richard Pemberton, with his family, lived in Baptist Valley about five miles west of Tazewell courthouse.


"On a Sabbath morning late in August, he started to his field, accompanied by his wife and two children, to see that his fences were not down and to repair any breach that might have been made. According to the custom of the times Mr. Pemberton had taken with him his gun, which was his constant companion. After satisfying himself that his crops were safe, the little party started back. They had gone but a few hundred yards, however, when two Indians armed with bows and arrows, knives and tomahawks, came yelling toward them at full speed. In an instant the pioneer's gun was


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Washington County, 1777-1870.


leveled and the trigger pulled: it missed fire and in his hurry to spring the loek again, he broke it and of course, could not fire. See- ing him raise his gun to shoot caused the Indians to halt and com- mence firing arrows at him. Keeping himself between his wife and children and the Indians he ordered them to get on as fast as pos- sible and try to reach a house at which a Mr. Johnson lived and where several men were living. This house was some half a mile distant, but he hoped to reach it and save those whom he held dear- est, his wife and children. The Indians made every possible attempt to separate him from his family, all of which proved vain. They would retreat to a respectful distance and then come bounding back like so many furies from the regions of indescribable woe. When they came too near, he would raise his gun as if he were really reserving his fire, which would cause them to halt and try to sur- round him. But at every attack they shot their arrows into his breast, causing great pain.


For nearly an hour this running fight was kept up : still the blood- thirsty savages pressed on. At last he was sufficiently near John- son's house to be heard. He was heard. when he raised his powerful voice for succor. But no sooner did the men at the house hear the cry of "Indians." than they took to their heels in an opposite direc- tion. At last he arrived at the house closely pursued by the Indians. and entering after his family, barred the door, and began to make preparation for acting more upon the defensive, when the Indians made a rapid retreat. Pemberton reached his own house the fol- lowing day, where he resided many years, an eye-sore to those who had so ingloriously fled from his assistance. Many arrow points which entered his breast were never removed and were carried to the end of his life, as the best certificate of his bravery and devotion to his family."*


Upon the ratification of the Constitution of the United States. the General Assembly of Virginia divided the State into ten con- gressional distriets, the third district being composed of the follow- ing counties :


Botetourt, Montgomery, Washington,


Rockbridge,


Greenbrier,


Augusta,


Russell,


Rockingham,


*Bickley's History of Tazewell.


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Southwest Virginia, 1746-1786.


and directed that an election be held on the 2d day of February, 1789, at thé court-house in each county in the district, for the elec- tion of a congressman. This election was held pursuant to the directions of the General Assembly of Virginia, and Andrew Moore, of Rockbridge county, was elected our first representative under the Constitution of the United States.


On the 15th day of May, 1789, the Indians visited the home of Joseph Johnson, in the Rye Cove settlement, and destroyed nine members of his family, Johnson and his two sons making their escape. His wife and child were found about one-quarter of a mile from the house, killed and scalped, and the bones of another child were found burned in the house, and the rest were killed or carried into captivity. Johnson lived on Clinch river, where the old path crossed between the block-house and Rye Cove.


On the first day of October, 1789, a party of Indians captured the family of one Wiley, who lived on the head waters of the Clinch. They killed and scalped four of his children and took his wife and youngest child into captivity. Mrs. Wiley soon made her escape, and upon her return made oath that the Indians told her that they would bring four hundred Indians against Clinch and Bluestone in the summer of 1790.


In the fall of this year, William Whitely, who lived in Baptist Valley, on the line dividing Russell and Montgomery counties, had occasion to leave his home for a short distance in search of his horses, when a party of Indians fell on him and cut him into small picees, which they strung on the bushes ; they cut out his heart, and flung it against the ground with so much violence that it covered itself in the soil. During this same year, a party of Shawnese Indians ascended the Dry fork of Tug river and fell upon the family of James Roark, who lived at a gap in the dividing ridge between the Clinch and Sandy rivers. Roark and two of his sons were not at home at the time. The Indians killed Mrs. Roark and several children. Roark's Gap, the scene of this massacre, is near Maxwell's station in Tazewell county, and the location of the house occupied by Roark and his family is still pointed out by the citizens to every passer-by. The house stood near a beautiful spring, and what is termed an "Indian mound" is found near by.


During this same year, John Davidson, who lived on the head waters of the Clinch, was waylaid and killed by a band of Indians


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Washington County, 1777-1870.


while feeding his borse at a cabin. The Indians were accompanied on this expedition by a white man, who robbed Davidson's saddle- bags of their contents.


In October of the year 1:59. Colonel Campbell made a return of the militia of Washington county, from which it was ascertained to consist of one county lieutenant, one colonel, one lieutenant-colonel. one major, fifteen captains, thirteen lieutenants. eleven ensigns. thirty sergeants, three drummers, two fifers. 625 rank and file, add- ing in his remarks, "no return from three companies."


"In June. 1790, a predatory party of Indians came from the Rockcastle hills in Kentucky and made their appearance at the cabin of Isaac Newland, on the North fork of Holston, the place subse- quently owned by Michael Fleenor and still in possession of his descendants, some eight miles north of Abingdon. Mr. Newland and his son were at work in a clearing near by, with no one at the cabin but his wife and her infant. The Indians captured the mother and infant, burnt the cabin and hurried away with their captives directly through the mountains toward Russell. The alarm being given Jacob Mongle (father of Colonel Abram Mongle), being the nearest neighbor, gathered a company in as short a time as possible and took the trail, which had been plainly marked by Mrs. Newland. who had the presence of mind to break twigs by the way and leave other signs. AAfter reaching the valley in which Lebanon is now situated, and fearing that the powder in their flint guns had become dampened in passing through the thick undergrowth of the moun- tain, they discharged their guns for the purpose of reloading. in order to make sure work should they overtake the savages, but it unfortunately so happened that the Indians had halted, and hearing the report of firearms took the alarm, murdered their vietims and made their escape. A few minutes after, the pursuing party came to where the mother and child were lying. the latter not quite dead. They brought them back to the settlements, Jacob Mongle carrying the infant, which died in his arms on the way.


The alarm having reached the little settlement at Abingdon it produced great consternation and serious apprehensions as to what might befall the little community at Castle's Woods, as the Indians would probably return in that direction. it being in a line with their towns beyond the Cumberland. A young man by the name of Dong- lass living at Abingdon, a fearless and determined Indian fighter,


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Southwest Virginia, 1746-1786.


proposed to cross the mountains to Castle's Woods, for the purpose of warning the settlers of the impending danger, and a young friend by the name of Benham, volunteered, against the expostulations of his relatives and friends, to accompany him on this perilous journey.


"Everybody in this country acquainted with the old road through Little Moccasin Gap, will remember the large, square, flat, table-like rock, some five or six feet high, which stood on the lower side of the old trace along the creek not far from opposite the little mill now on the new road in the gap, the noisy machinery of which sends strange echoes along the surrounding peaks in these days of piping peace and corn dodgers. Douglass and Benham had reached that rock, and as was the custom of most wayfarers as long as that old road was the highway through the gap, had probably halted to eat a snack. At this moment the report of a rifle was heard, when Douglass fell mortally wounded.


He at once told Benham that the shot was fatal and urged him to dodge into the laurel bordering the stream, make his escape to Cas- tle's Woods and warn the settlers. Douglass saw the smoke of a rifle rise from a log between the stream and where the road now passes, and knowing that it was the habit of the Indian to lie still under such circumstances till the smoke cleared away, when he would cautiously raise his head to see the effect of his fire, he drew a bead upon the spot as he lay propped upon his elbow, and Benham afterwards stated that he had not gone fifteen yards when he heard the report of Douglass's rifle. Benham hurried on through the gap, reached Castle's Woods in safety, and gave the alarm. A company returning a day or two after found the body of Douglass lying where Benham left him, with his scalp gone, and on examining the place where the smoke of the Indian's rifle was seen, blood and brains were found upon the log, showing that Douglass at the instant he entered upon that journey from which no traveler returns, took an Indian with him on the solemn march. A grave was excavated among the rocks on the roadside where he fell, in which his body was deposited and still sleeps, amid the wildest and most romantic scenery of all our mountain gorges. It was the custom for each passer-by who knew the spot to drop a pebble upon the rude mound, to perpetuate the memory of the resting place of the brave pioneer who sacrificed his life for the safety of others perhaps unknown to


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Washington County, 1777-1870.


him, but the vandalism of modern change, instead of rearing a mon- ument to his memory on the spot, wantonly changed the location of the road to avoid a slight elevation, and thus obliterated forever the little hillock that marked the receptacle of the ashes of the hero and martyr .*


Captain Isaac Newland was an active, thriving man, ambitious for preferment by his country, but the sad occurrence above given had such a bad effect upon him, that "grief for a time seemed to absorb all powers of his mind and body, and he settled down into a deep melancholy, regardless of every object or occurrence. He finally sought comfort in religion, and became a Baptist preacher."t


In the spring of the year 1790, a little boy, the son of John Fra- zer, of Russell county, was taken prisoner, and in the fall of this same year, the entire family of John Frazer was murdered on the Kentucky road. About the middle of August, 1290, six persons were killed by the Indians on Clinch river in Russell county.


In the year 1791, Ensign Simon Cockrell recommended to the Governor the placing of ten men at Baptist's Valley, ten rien at Richlands, ten men at New Garden, ten men at Glade Hollow. twenty men at Castle's Woods, ten men at crossing of Clinch and Kentucky road, ten men at Moccasin Gap, ten men at Rye Cove. as a protection against the invasion of the Indians, and as far as I can ascertain, the people of this section were exempt from Indian attacks until the fall of 1792.


In the fall of 1791, the Governor instructed Captains An Irew Lewis and John Preston to recruit two companies of volunteer mili- tia for the defence of the frontiers of Montgomery, Wythe and Rus- sell counties, and by the 7th of February, 1792, their companies con- sisted of four musicians, two ensigns, eight sergeants, eight cor- porals, six scouts and one hundred and thirty-two privates, besides the captains and lieutenants, and with this force Captains Lewis and Preston very effectively defended the frontiers during the sun- mer of 1792.


In the year 1793, in the election for a representative in the Con- gress of the United States, the candidates before the people of the Fourth District of Virginia, which district was composed of the counties of Wythe, Greenbrier, Kanawha, Lee, Russell, Montgomery.


*Wilburn Waters and Chas. B. Coale.


+Chas. B. Coale.


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Southwest Virginia, 1746-1786.


Grayson and Washington, were Abraham Trigg, of Montgomery county and Francis Preston, of Washington county.


Abraham Trigg was a Jeffersonian Republican, while Preston was a Washingtonian Federalist, and the contest between the candidates representing these diverse principles was bitter.


The result was the election of Colonel Preston by a majority of ten votes.


Colonel Trigg was not satisfied with the result and contested the election of Preston, and assigned the following grounds to sustain his contest.


First. That the sheriff of Lee county closed the poll at 2 P. M. on the day of the election and refused to reopen the same.


Second. That the sheriff of Washington county adjourned the poll two days instead of one as required by the law, and that non- residents of the State voted for Colonel Preston in said election.


Third. That Captain William Preston, a brother of Francis Pres- ton, was stationed near Montgomery courthouse with sixty or sev- enty Federal troops, and that on the day of the election, Captain Preston's troops were marched three times around the court-house and were paraded in front of and close to the door thereof.


Fourth. That said troops were polled in favor of Preston.


That a part of the troops stood at the door of the court- house and refused to let the electors favoring Trigg enter the house, and in one instance knocked down a magistrate who sought admis- sion, being an advocate of Colonel Trigg.


This contest was as hotly fought before Congress as the election had been before the people.


The Elections Committee of the House of Representatives on the 17th day of April, 1794, reported in favor of unscating Francis Preston.


This report was debated for many days, after which a vote was taken, which vote resulted in the report of the committee being rejected and Francis Preston was thereupon declared duly seated.


Colonel Preston was returned a member of Congress from this district by successive elections till the year 1797.


Thus our district early in its history witnessed a contest before the Congress of the United States.


At the election held for a presidential elector, on the first Monday in November, 1792, for the district composed of the counties of


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Washington County, 1777-1870.


Wythe, Washington, Russell and Montgomery, Claiborne Watkin, was selected an elector from this district to vote for President and Vice-President of the United States.


In the month of December, 1192, Captain Tate and forty mer were passing through the wilderness on their way to Kentucky. when they were attacked by a company of Creek and Cherokee Indians, and, about the same time, several lesser encounters of- curred, but I cannot ascertain the casualties on either side.


In the fall of 1192, the citizens of North Carolina provoked a war with the Indians, and, in the month of October. John Watts. at the head of a thousand hostile Indians, threatened an invasion of the Holston settlements and the settlements in Powell's Valles. Watts, with his forces, began his march for the settlements and reached Buchanan's fort within five miles of Knoxville, where he was repulsed with a loss of fifteen men killed. Watts himself recri: - ing a bad wound. After this repulse. Watts's army dispersed in small parties, declaring their purpose to invade the settlements and to attack the settlers out of their forts. It was the declared pur- rose of Watts and his followers, to drive off and destroy the whole of the inhabitants in Powell's Valley.


The situation was truly alarming for the Virginia settlements in Powell's Valley, and the Governor of Virginia requested Colonel Arthur Campbell and Captain JJohn Preston to submit to him their views as to the proper manner to proceed to place the western fron- tiers in a defensive position. Colonel Arthur Campbell submitted the following proposal :


"That a company of fifty men as rangers, be engaged for three months from the first day of December next. to do duty at or new Cumberland Gap.


As it is in the contemplation of the Executive of the State of Kentucky to have a fort built about half way in the wilderness, and place a garrison of fifty men in it. our troops, after they fortify thei: camp, may meet those rangers occasionally, and to the southward meet those under the direction of Governor Blount, which would form a chain of connection that might preclude the neepsity of troops being stationed on Clinch river. As to attempts of the South- ern enemy, the regulars on the Ohio may cover that frontier from the inroads of the Northern Indians. But it will be useless respect- ing the Southern war.


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Southwest Virginia, 1746-1786.


The post at Cumberland Gap, besides covering a detached froutier settlement in Virginia, will divide the distance between Danville and Hawkins Courthouse and of course will facilitate the trans- portation of the mail and secure our intercourse with the army on the Ohio by land.


This is a plan of economy, on account of the idea of the Executive of the general government. A full company ought to be the number for this service, as they may be assailed by large parties of Indians and as they will be more than one hundred miles from the settle- ment from which they can expect succour in case of extremity.


It will be peculiarly mortifying, if the frontier of Virginia, exposed to the attacks of the Southern Indians, be neglected, when their neighbors in the Southwestern Territory, not so much in dan- ger, have an ample force ranging around the settlements. The Virginians, without murmuring, pay duties to the general govern- nient; the citizens of the Southwestern Territory not a shilling ; Georgia and South Carolina are arranging to oppose the same eremy, and will no doubt be paid for their services out of the Treas- ury of the United States."


Captain John Preston proposed, that there should be stationed :


"At the mouth of Greenbrier, an ensign, sergeant and sixteen privates.


"At the five-mile fork of East river, a lieutenant, one sergeant, a corporal and twenty-four privates.


"At Lincolnshire, on Clinch, a captain, a sergeant, a corporal and twenty-four privates.


"At Hawkins, in the Baptist Valley, a sergeant and eight privates.


"At Brown's or Fugate's, in the Richlands, a sergeant, corporal and twelve privates.


"At Wilkinson's, in the New Garden, a lieutenant, sergeant and sixteen privates.


"At the mouth of Dump's creek, an ensign, two corporals and twelve privates.


"At Roberson's, in Castle's Woods, a captain, a sergeant, corporal and twenty-four privates.


"At Blackmore's Station, a sergeant, corporal and twelve privates.


"At Carter's, in Rye Cove, a captain, sergeant, corporal and twenty-four privates.


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Washington County, 1777-1870.


"At Turkey Cove, a captain, sergeant, corporal and twenty-four privates.


"At Martin's old station, an ensign, sergeant and corporal.


"At Cox's, an ensign, sergeant, corporal and sixteen privates.


"At Martin's lower station, sometimes called the blockhouse, where Robinson lives, which is the lower settlement of Virginia, and where the Kentucky road enters this State, a captain, two ser- geants, two corporals and thirty-one privates.


"At Blackwater branch, a place exposed to the south in Lee county, a lieutenant, sergeant, corporal and twelve privates.


"And the scouts to be dispersed along the frontier as shall be deemed necessary, and changed when required."


I cannot say which proposition was acted upon, but it is certain that steps were taken to protect the frontiers.


Captain Matthew Willoughby and Ensign William_Campbell were stationed in Powell's Valley.


The trouble with the Indians began at the opening of spring in the year 1:93. On Sunday about the first day of April, Ensign Moses Cockrell and two men were passing from Rye Cove to Powell's Valley, with several loaded horses. On the top of Powell's mountain they were fired on by twelve Indians. The two men who accompa- nied Cockrell were shot dead on the spot, and Cockrell himself was pursued to the foot of the mountain. Two of his horses were killed and all the loads lost.




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